Open Interface and Alereon First to Demonstrate 480 Mbps Bluetooth over WiMedia Ultra-Wideband
Bluetooth runs 500 times faster with UWB
LAS VEGAS, NV. - January 5, 2006 - Demonstrating the next step in the on-going evolution of wireless Personal Area Networking (PAN) functionality, Alereon is hosting the industry's first public demonstration of Bluetooth+WiMedia UWB operating smoothly together under an existing Bluetooth software stack. The demonstration, held at the WiMedia Techzone at CES this week, utilizes BLUEtusk software from Open Interface to send UWB signals using Bluetooth protocols.
Bluetooth version 2.0 devices operate at data rates that can be frustratingly slow for large files and inadequate for video streaming. Open Interface's BLUEtusk application combines the interoperability and ease of use of Bluetooth with the bandwidth of WiMedia UWB to transfer data at speeds that enable audio and video streaming.
"BLUEtusk represents a major step forward for both Bluetooth and WiMedia UWB", said Jim Lansford, Chief Technology Officer of Alereon "The combination of a WiMedia UWB solution from Alereon and Bluetooth software from Open Interface enables Bluetooth applications that run 500 times the speed of regular Bluetooth and use less than 2% of the battery energy of Bluetooth. Consumers can now share images, phone books, videos, and the other Bluetooth content at up to 480 megabits per second, allowing devices such as megapixel camera phones to download in seconds, rather than minutes."
"As Bluetooth becomes a standard feature in portable devices it is apparent that although Bluetooth provides excellent interoperability and ease of use, the maximum data rate of 3 Mbps is too slow for today's media centric applications.", said Greg Burns, CTO of Open Interface. "Combining Bluetooth and WiMedia UWB leverages Bluetooth's core strengths while providing the high data transfer rates for downloading image, MP3, and video files."
About the Demonstration
The demonstration offers an initial view of this important wireless pairing and features two laptops, each enabled with a UWB module and Bluetooth dongle. Attendees will first see a pure Bluetooth to Bluetooth demonstration with a file transfer between laptops that operates at a maximum rate of well under 3 Mbps and takes several minutes. Next, the UWB radios will use Open Interface's BLUEtusk software solution to leverage the software stack of Bluetooth while operating the Alereon WiMedia radio. Achieving up to 480 Mbps, the file transfer happens almost instantaneously with Alereon's recently announced EVB4002 radio operating under the Bluetooth software stack.
"This demonstration is an excellent example of the founding design principles of the WiMedia Common Radio platform" said Stephen Wood, President of WiMedia. "From the very outset, our objective was to create a wireless standard that supported TCP/IP, Certified Wireless USB, Bluetooth and Wireless 1394. The WiMedia standard, now called ECMA-368, is now an international standard recognized by ECMA".
About Open Interface's Bluetooth Solutions
Open Interface's Bluetooth solutions ship in millions of consumer devices worldwide. BLUEmagicR 3.0 is a compact, modular, high-performance Bluetooth protocol stack designed specifically for embedded systems. Initially qualified in July 2002 and qualified for Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR in March 2005 it supports the widest range of Bluetooth profiles in the industry.
BLUEtusk is Open Interface's innovative technology for integrating Bluetooth with UWB and other high speed short range wireless technologies.
About Alereon's UWB Solutions
Visit our demonstration area, WiMedia Techzone in the Central Hall #7923
Alereon provides complete solutions including silicon, development systems, hardware, software, antennas and reference designs for wireless USB and WiMedia ultra-wideband systems. The AL4000 family includes the AL4100 WiMedia RF Transceiver, the AL4200 WiMedia Baseband Processor and the AL4300 Wireless USB device Media Access Controller and Baseband Processor (MAC/BBP).
About Alereon Semiconductor
Alereon, Inc. is a fabless semiconductor company providing complete solutions for Wireless USB and WiMedia ultra-wideband (UWB) applications. A technology pioneer, Alereon was first to demonstrate a WiMedia PHY running at 480 Mbps in October of 2004. Alereon's products promise to replace the complex tangle of wiring used to interconnect today's consumer electronics, computer peripheral, and mobile devices with high-bandwidth, low-power, low-cost wireless links. Further information is available on the company's website: www.alereon.com
About Open Interface North America
Open Interface North America is a world-leading supplier of Bluetooth software and application solutions for the automotive, consumer, and wireless markets. Open Interface North America is a privately held company based in Seattle, Washington.
www.oi-us.com
Alereon Semiconductor Contact:
Mike Krell
Alereon, Inc.
(512) 345-4200 x2162
mike.krell@alereon.com
Open Interface North America Contact:
Henry Nielsen
Open Interface North America, Inc.
(206) 315-5570
henry.nielsen@openInterface.com
BLUEtusk is a trademark of Open Interface North America, Inc. All other product or service names are the property of their respective owners. C Open Interface North America, Inc. 2006.